Three-dimensional display means



US- l, 1957 J. R. GREEN ETAL THEE-DIMENSIONALJ DISPLAY MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet l' Filed Oct. 6, 1965 Aug. l, 1967 J, R. GREEN ET AL THHEE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY MEANS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. '6, 1965 United States Patent O ABSTRACT F DISCLOSURE A display container has a front wall curved inwardly to a position against a rear wall forming an open front. Three-dimensional objects may pierce the portion of the curved front wall which is spaced from the rear wall so that the front Wall will support the articles which may be viewed through the open front.

The present invention relates to three-dimensional dis-V play means and more particularly to a new and useful display means including container means which is manufactured in such a manner that the front wall thereof may be depressed into the container means forming a support for three-dimensional display articles to be placed in the container means.

Three-dimensional displays are available wherein a container having a closed bottom wall, upstandingr sidewalls and end walls and an open top is supported on one of the sidewalls so that the open top is disposed in a vertical plane. Three-dimensional display articles may then be placed inside the container and supported bythe supported sidewall.

` While generally satisfactory, this type of three-dimensional display does have certaindisadvantages.

One disadvantage resides in the fact that comparatively sturdy and thick material must be employed for the container to minimize the likelihood that it will collapse because of a lack of support lat its open front. Another disadvantage resides in the fact that the construction of the container makes it difficult to maintain the display articles in position within the container.

Still another disadvantage resides in the fact that the containers are usually rectangular in shape having straight sidewalls, end walls and a flat bottom wall forming straight lines and right angles which do not particularly enhance the articles displayed in the container.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of three-dimensional display means, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful three-dimensional display means not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and which includes a preformed sheet of material especially designed for manufacturing a three-dimensional display means efficiently, safely and expeditiously.

Another object of the present invention is to provide container means for a three-dimensional display means which includes a front wall which may be depressed into the container means adjacent its rear Wall forming a decorative, curved background for display articles which may be supported within the container means by the curved front wall.

The present invention will be described herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a childs play item wherein three-dimensional display articles, such as dolls and doll furniture, are included in combination with a container means of the present invention. However, it is `to be understood that the threedimensional display means herein shown and described lends itself equally well to articles in the adult world. For example, the display means may take the form of decora- 3,333,358 Patented Aug. l, 1967 tions which may be hung upon the walls of a room to decorate the same.

According to the present invention, a three-dimensional `display means is manufactured by cutting a flat sheet of material to a predetermined shape. The sheet, either during the cutting operation or subsequently thereto, is stamped to form a plurality of tabs and a plurality of fold lines. The fold lines are located on the flat sheet in such a manner that the sheet may be folded, after the ends thereof have been connected together, along a rst set of predetermined fold lines to form container means having first and second sidewalls, a front wall and a rear wall. The front Wall is wider than the rear wall so that the front wall may have one axis thereof moved laterally into engagement with the rear wall, thereby forming a curved member within the container means. This curved member serves as a background scene and as a support for three-dimensional display articles to be mounted within the container means behind the opening formed by depressing the front Wall into the container means to form the curved member. The sheet may then be folded along a second set of predetermined fold lines to form end walls which each have an edge engaged behind an associated edge of the depressed, curved member.

If desired, one surface of the flat sheet may be provided with a decorative pattern between the f-old lines which define the front wall so that the curved background will have a predetermined, decorative motif. Also, outwardly struck tabs may be provided on the curved member and on the end walls for supporting the three-dimensional display articleswhich are mounted in the container means.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional display means of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3*3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan View, on a reduced scale, of `a iiat sheet of material which may be assembled to form a container means for the display means of VFIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded, partial perspective View of `a portion of the display means of FIGUREl showing the relative positions of certain portions thereof at one stage of the manufacturing operation; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, partial perspective view showing a detail of the construction of the display means of FIGURE 1.

' Referring again to the drawings, display means constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a. container 12 having first and second sidewalls 14 and 16, respectively, rst and second endwalls 18 and 20, respectively, a front wall 22 and a rear wall 24.

The front wall 22 is preferably disposed within the container 12, as shown, thereby forming an open front 2 6. The appearance of the display 10 is enhanced by a framing member 28 having a central portion 30 which is provided with a scalloped opening 32 and a plurality of flap portions 34, 36, 38 and 40 sidewalls 16 and 14 and the endwalls 18 and 20, respectively, to secure the framing member 28 into position in such a manner that the scalloped opening 32` frames the open front 26 of the container 12.

which may be aiixed to the Suitable three-dimensional display articles, such as a simulated television set 42, a table 44, a figure toy 46, a chair 48 and a light fixture 50, may be mounted inside the container 12, in a manner to be hereinafter :described in detail, so that they present an attractive appearance when viewed through the scalloped opening 32.

The container 12 is preferably made from a single, flat sheet 52 (FIGURE 4) of any suitable material, such as two or three ply Bristol board, which may have an upper surface 54 which is glazed, if desired. The sheet S2 may be cut to the approximate shape shown in FIG- URE 4 by `a stamping operation or the like which simultaneously provides the sheet 52 with fold lines at predetermined locations. A lirst fold line 56 is provided on the sheet 52 adjacent its edge 58 forming a narrow strip 60 which is, in turn, provided with a rst notch 62 adjacent the end 64 and a second notch 66 adjacent the end 68 of strip 60. The sheet 52 is also provided with fold lines 70 and 72 extending at right angles from the fold line 56 in alignment with the notches 62 and 66, respectively. A Lfirst perforated fold line 74 forming angles of approximately 45 with the lines 56 and 70r and a second perforated fold line 76 forming angles of approximately 45 with the fold lines 56 and 72 are also provided. An aperture 78 is provided at each of the intersections formed by the lines 56, 70 and 74 and the lines 56, 72 and 76, respectively.

The sidewall 14 is defined by placing a fold line 80 on sheet 52 in parallel, spaced relation with the line 56-l The front wall 22 is defined by yet another fold line 82 which is provided on the sheet 52 in parallel, spaced relation with the line 80 and the sidewall 16 is defined by providing a fold line 84 in spaced, parallel relation with the line S2. A fold line 84 and an edge 86 of the sheet 52 define the rearwall 24.

The sheet 52 is also provided with fold lines 88 and 90 which extend between the lines 82 and 84 at right angles thereto. The junctures of the lines 88 and S4- and 90 and 84 are each provided with an aperture 92 from which perforated fold lines 94 and 96, respectively, extend forming angles of approximately 45 with their as` sociated lines 88 and 84 and 90 and 84, respectively.

The end wall is formed by providing the sheet 52 with a fold line 98 which extends from the line l84 at right angles thereto to the edge 86. The end wall 18 is formed in like manner by providing the sheet 52 with a fold line 100 extending from the line 84 at right angles thereto to the edge 86. The end wall 18 is provided with a. fold line 102 which is placed thereon in parallel, spaced relation with the line 100. Likewise, the end wall 20 includes a `fold line 104 which is provided thereon in parallel, spaced relation with the line 98. In addition, the end wall 18 includes a portion 106 having an arcuate edge 108 which is provided with a notch 110 and the end Wall 20 includes a similar end portion 112 having an arcuate edge 114 which is provided with a notch 116. The end portion 112 is provided with a rst slit 118` eX- tending from the edge 114 to a second slit 120 which extends from the slit 118 at right angles thereto to a fold line 122. This forms a tab 124 which, when the container 12 is formed from the sheet 52 in a manner to be hereinafter described, may be extended at right angles to the end wall 20 as shown in FIGURE 1 where it serves as a holddown for the simulated television set 42. The front wall 22 is also provided with tabs, indicated at 126 and 128, which are formed in a manner similar to that used for forming the tab 124 and which serve as holddowns for the simulated television set 42 and the table 44, respectively, when folded outwardly from the front Wall at right angles thereto. The front wall 22 is also provided with rectangular tabs 130 and 132 which may be engaged by the notches 110 and 116, respectively, in a manner and for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Simultaneously with the stamping operation which produces the sheet 52, or in a subsequent operation, the

surface 54 of the front wall 22 may be imprinted with a suitable decorative background pattern 134 which, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, is shown as simulating a window 136 having drapes 138 hanging in front thereof.

The container 12 may be formed from the sheet 52 by folding the strip 60 along fold line 56 in the direction of arrow 140 to a position where the strip 60 exten-ds at right angles to the sidewall 14, as shown in FIGURE 5. The strip 60 may then be provided with a suitable adhesive, as shown diagrammatically at 142 in FIGURE 4, for adhering the strip 60 to the underside 144 of sheet 52 -adjacent the edge 86 thereof. This forms a somewhat cylindrical member which may then be shaped as shown in FIGURE 5 by creasing the sheet 52 along fold lines 80, 82 and 84 to produce a rectangular carton having the flaps 106 and 112 extending therefrom. To facilitate shipping such a carton, the sheet 52 is provided with ya fold line 146 intermediate and parallel to the fold lines 82 and 84 so that the container 12 may be folded .from its FIG- URE 5 position to a at form by creasing it 4along line 146 and the fold line 80.

It is an important feature of the invention that the distance between the lines 80 and 82 exceeds the distance between the lines 84 an-d the edge 86 sufficiently that, when the container 12 Ihad been assembled as indicated in FIG- URE 5, the minor axis A-A `may be moved laterally in the direction of arrow 150 until the inner side 143 of the front wall 22 contacts the inner side 144 of rear wall 24 along a horizontal line dened by the axis A-A. This, of course, provides the open front 26 and disposes the front wall 22 in the approximate semi-cylindrical shape shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A chamber 151 (FIGURE 2) is formed by the `rear wall 24 and the portions of the 4front wall which do not touch the rear wall. The front wall 22 is retained in its semi-cylindrical shape by folding the flaps 106 and 112 inwardly, as indicated by the arrow 152 in FIGURE 5 for the flap 106, while simultaneously folding the perforated lines 74, 76, 94 and 96 inwardly in the direction of arrows 154, as shown in FIG- URE 5 for the lines 74 and 76, in the manner of a well known drug store wrap and also simultaneously folding the end walls 18 and 20 upwardly in the direction of arrow 152 along fold lines 100 and 98, respectively, so that the end walls 18 and 20 extend upwardly at right angles to the rear wall 24. The flaps 106 and 112 may then be folded ldownwardly lalong their fold lines 102 and 104, respectively, until the notches 110 and 116 engage their 4associated tabs 130 and 132, respectively.

The appearance of the container 12 may then be enhanced by placing the member 28 over the opening 26 where it may be secured in position by adhesively adhering the panels 34, 36, 38 and 40 to the sidewalls 16 and 14 and the endwalls 18 and 20, respectively.

The simulated light fixture 50 is yattached to the front Wall 22 -by puncturing it with a pointed prong 156 provided on the fixture 50. The simulated television set 42 may also be positioned in the container 12 and secured in position by puncturing the wall 22 so that a portion of the legs 158, which are lprovided on the television set 42, are disposed in chamber 151. The tabs 124 and 126 are folded outwardly over the top surface of the television set 42 to hold -it down in the container 12. Likewise, the table 44 may be secured in position behind the opening 26 by puncturing the wall 22 with the legs 162 provided at the front of the table 44 and engaging its rear edge 164 within a slot 166 formed in the front wall 22 when the tab 128 is folded outwardly `at right angles thereto. Also, the chair 48, with the toy ligure 46 4in position thereon, lmay `be positioned within the display 10 by puncturing the wall 22 with the legs 168 provided on the chair 48 and a pin 169 provided on the toy figure 46. The figure 46 is also retained in position by engaging its legs with the undersurface of the top of table 44. Of course it is apparent that other fastening means may be provided in chamber 151 for retaining the display articles in position on front wall 22.

While the particular three-dimensional display means herein shown and described in detail is fully -capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown and described other than as deiined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A three-dimensional display means, comprising: a container having first and second side walls, iirst and second end Walls, a front wall and a rear wall, said side and end walls being substantially perpendicular to said back wall; said front wall extending integrally from said side walls at `their outer edges spaced from said back wall, said front wall bein-g curved inwardly with a central portion thereof abutting -said rear wall to define `an open front whereby t-he portions of said front wall adjacent said side walls are spaced from said rear wall to define chambers therebetween; and three-dimensioned display articles supported by said front wall in said open iront and having support means extending downwardly therefrom and penetrating said curved front wall an-d extending into at least one of said chambers.

2. A display means -as stated in claim 1 including 1a decorative member secured -to said sidewalls and said endwalls across said open -front for reducing the size of the opening yformed by said open front, said decorative panel including a scalloped opening.

3. A display means as stated in claim 1 including tabs struck outwardly from said front wall toward said open front for engaging said display Aarticles to maintain them in position behind said open front.

4. A display means as stated in claim 1 wherein said display larticles include simulated furniture wherein said support means comprise furniture legs.

5. A ldisplay means as stated in claim 1 wherein said three-dimensioned articles include a toy gure having pin means piercing said front wall for retaining said toy iigure in position behind said open front.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,756,526 4/1930 Thompson 46-21 2,314,721 3/ 1943 Lowenstein 40-124.1 X 2,851,804 9/1958 Roach 40-160 X 2,862,322 12/1958 Ziegler 40-124.1 X 2,872,753 2/ 1959 Fenton 46-12 FOREIGN PATENTS 873,204 7/ 1961 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY MEANS, COMPRISING: A CONTAINER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS, FIRST AND SECOND END WALLS, A FRONT WALL AND A REAR WALL, SAID SIDE AND END WALLS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID BACK WALL; SAID FRONT WALL EXTENDING INTEGRALLY FROM SAID SIDE WALLS AT THEIR OUTER EDGES SPACED FROM SAID BACK WALL, SAID FRONT WALL BEING CURVED INWARDLY WITH A CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF ABUTTING SAID REAR WALL TO DEFINE AN OPEN FRONT WHEREBY THE PORTIONS OF SAID FRONT WALL ADJACENT SAID SIDE WALLS ARE SPACED FROM SAID REAR WALL TO DEFINE CHAMBERS THEREBETWEEN; AND THREE-DIMENSIONED DISPLAY ARTICLES SUPPORTED BY SAID FRONT WALL IN SAID OPEN FRONT AND HAVING SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND PENETRATING SAID CURVED FRONT WALL AND EXTENDING INTO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS. 